Ventilating means for houses



June 18, 1929. c. J. KURTZ j VENTILATING MEANS FOR HOUSES Filed May 28. 1928 Ffa j INVEN TOR. y .M/Wow Jf/rz ATTORNEY Patented June 18, 1929.

PATENT oFFicE.

CLINTON J. KURTZ, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

VENTILATING MEANS FOR HOUSES.

Application filed May 28,

My invention relates to Ventilating means for houses and more particularly to means for Ventilating the space under a building and the objects of my invention are: first, to provide means for preventing formation of dry rot or mushroom fungus in the wood forming the foundation portion of a house; second, to provide means for Ventilating the sides and upper surface of the mud sills of a building; third, to provide Ventilating means of this class adapted to prevent rain from entering the ventilation openings; fourth, to. provide Ventilating means of this class which will evenly ventilate the entire length of the mud sill; fifth, to provide a support and protection for the lower edge of the stucco or weatherboard of the house adjacent the mud sills thereof; sixth, to provide a device of this description which forms a waterproof connection between the mud sills and the lower siding while allowing the flow of air between t-he mud sills and the siding thereby providing for ventilation of the wood surfaces; seventh7 to provide a Ventilating means which prevents the ingress of rodents; and eighth, to provide a Ventilating means of this description which is simple to install; economical of manufacture, enduring, and eihcient in operation.

'With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described. in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational View of the portion of the wall of a building adjoining the foundation prior to' the application of the stucco surfacing; Fig. 2 is a sectional View in plan taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the lino 4i-at of Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several Views of the drawings.

My Ventilating means is formed preferably of lengths of galvanized sheet iron or 1928. Serial No. 281,014.

the like and comprises t-he upper relatively broad fiat portion l which is adapted to be secured by means of nails 5 to the lower siding members 7 of the structure to which the Ventilating means is to be secured. A ledge portion 2 is formed by bending the strip at an obtuse angle to the base portion l. The strip 2 is adapted to extendoutwardly from the portion 1 and is bent slightly upward at its outer end 2a. The purpose of the ledge 2 is to support and protect the lower edge of the stucco l10. The sheet metal is folded backwardly so that the ledge 2 comprises double thickness of metal giving it added strength and also provi ding a smooth rounded outer edge for the ledge 2. A rearwardly extending portion 3 and a downwardly extending portiony t complete the Ventilating means. The portion 3 is provided with a series of openings 8a substantially equally spaced and positioned on the longitudinal median line of the portion 3. The portion 3 serves to support the portion l and ledge 2 at the correct distance from the lower edge of the mud sill 11 to which the portion et is secured by means of nails G. The width of the portion 8 is preferably made substantially equal to the thickness of they conventional siding 7. The ledge 2 and portion 3 are inclined slightly downwardly and outwardly so that the vent opening 3 lies somewhat above the lower surface of the ledge 2. This provides a drip proof arrangement, tlr'us preventing rain from entering. In applying my ventilating strips in the construction of a building the mud sills 11 are supported in the conventional manner on the concrete foundation vl2 and support the conventional licor joists 13 or the like.

The siding 7 or plaster board or similar material used as a foundation for the outer wall surface, such as stucco or plaster, terminates at a point slightly above the upper surface of the mud sill thereby leaving a space for the circulation of air between the lower edges of the siding 7 and the adjacent surface of the mud sills. As shown in Fig. 3, the openings 3 in the Ventilating strip allow air to pass from between the corner of the foundation l2 and the lower surface of the ledge 2 into the space between the inner surface of the portionV l, the lower' edge of the siding 7 and the outer edge of the mud sills 11, and thence into the space under the building. lVhere the mud sill is concealed by the projecting concrete work of a porch or the like I prefer to provide an enlarged Ventilating opening 14 positioned in the corners formed by the wall and projecting porch portion 15, as shown in Fig. 2. The purpose of the enlarged opening 1/1 is to provide for suiiicient ventilation for the length of mud sill and other woodwork which is concealed behind the porch structure. The Ventilating opening 14 is preferably formed of a rectangular strip of sheet metal having a substantially square opening therein bordered by outwardly extending upper flange portions 16, side portions 16 and bottom portions 16b with integral upper and side margins 17 and a lower rearwardly extending spacing portion 18 having a downwardly extending portion 19 adapted to be secured by means of nails 20 to the mud sills 11. lThe upper portion 17 is likewise secured by means of nails 21 to the siding 7, or other Suitable support. The opening la is covered by means of a wire netting 141 for the purpose of keeping out rodents and the like. The outwardly extending flange portion 16 forms a ledge for supporting and protecting the lower edge of the stucco or plaster forming the outer surfacing of the wall structure. The side flanges 1Ga are adapted to lie flush with the surface of the cement work 15' of the porch on the porch side of the opening 111 and to form a ledge' and projecting strip for the stucco on the other side thereof.

As rwill be seen by comparing Fig. 4 with Fig. 3 the lower portion of the ventilating opening 141 is made exactly the same as that described in Fig. 3 except that no ventilation openings are required in the portion 18. Fig. 1 shows the position occupied by the ventilating means herein described on. a wall which is shown under construction. It will be noted that the ledge 16h forms a continuation of the ledge 2 of the iirst described type of ventilation strip. The tar paper, or other waterproof material used over the siding 7, is lapped over the upper edge of the portions 1 and 17 and the wire netting 9 positioned in proper spaced relation with the tar paper 8 for receiving the stucco or plaster, is brought down to the ledges 2 and 16. The lower ledge 16b ofthe ventilation opening 14 is inclined slightly downward and is provided with an upwardly extending flange portion V16C to which the wire netting 14 may be attached along its lower edge. Any water collecting on the screen will fall on to the ledge 161 and run out.

It is obvious from the construction illustrated in the drawings and described inthe foregoing specification that there is provided a device as aimed at and set forth in the objects of the invention and though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, l do not wish lto be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. 'The combination with the mud sill and lower wall siding 'of a building, of a sheet metal strip secured to the'outer edge of said mud sill and forming a substantially 'horizontal outwardly extending portion and a vertical, upwardly extending portion, rthe latter portion being secured at its upper margin to the outer surface of said wall siding, said horizontal portion having a plurality of perforations for admitting air between the mud sill and lower siding.

2. The combination with the mud sill and lower wall siding of a building, of a sheet metal strip secured to the outer edge of said mud sill and forming a horizontal, outwardly extending portion, and a vertically upwardly extending portion, intermediate the edges of said horizontal portion, forming an outwardly extending ledge therewith, perforations in the horizontal portion inward of said vertical portion for admitting air between said mud sill and siding, said vertical portion being secured at its upper margin to the outer surface of said siding.

3. The combination with the walls of a building and the foundation portions thereof, of a spacing means forming juncture between portions of the lower inner surface of said walls and the upper, outer surface of said foundation means, said spacing means forming Ventilating channels for admitting air between said wall and lioundation portions.

et. The combination with the walls of a building and the foundation portions thereof of a horizontal spacing means positioned between portions of the lower, inner surface of said walls and the outer surface of said foundation means, said spacing means formf mg vertically disposed air channels for ad-A mitting air between said wall and foundation portions.

5. The combination with the walls of a building and the foundation portions thereof of a horizontal spacing means positioned between portions of the lower, inner surface of said walls and the outer surface of said foundation means, said spacing means forming vertically disposed air channels for admitting air between said wall and foundation portions, and outwardly extending ledge means for supporting the lower edge of said wall portions.

6. The combination with the mud sill',

lower wall siding and outer surfacing of a building, of a Ventilating member including a marginal portion adapted to be secured to the outer surface oi said wall siding, an 5 outwardly extending ledge portion for supporting and protecting the lower edge of Said outer surfacing, a central apertured portion for passing air and another marginal portion adapted to be secured to said mud sill.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 11th day of May, 1928.

CLINTON J. KURTZ. 

